A Great Reckoning

When an intricate old map is found stuffed into the walls of the bistro in Three Pines, it at first seems no more than a curiosity. But the closer the villagers look, the stranger it becomes. Given to Armand Gamache as a gift the first day of his new job, the map eventually leads him to shattering secrets. To an old friend and older adversary. It leads the former Chief of Homicide for the Surete du Quebec to places even he is afraid to go. But must. And there he finds four young cadets in the Surete Academy, and a dead professor. And, with the body, a copy of the old, odd map. Everywhere Gamache turns, he sees Amelia Choquet, one of the cadets. Tattooed and pierced. Guarded and angry. Amelia is more likely to be found on the other side of a police line-up. And yet she is in the academy. A protege of the murdered professor. The focus of the investigation soon turns to Gamache himself and his mysterious relationship with Amelia, and his possible involvement in the crime. The frantic search for answers takes the investigators back to Three Pines and a stained glass window with its own horrific secrets. For both Amelia Choquet and Armand Gamache, the time has come for a great reckoning.

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I don't normally read murder mysteries, but a friend loaned me this book with very positive reviews. I wasn't disappointed. I see (from previous comments) that I should have read the other books in this series first, but I found that this book could stand alone quite easily. A common statement was repeated throughout the novel: Don't believe all that you think. (i.e. question what you were taught, what you learned, and don't hold on to preconceived notions.) This is such a good lesson that we all could learn from in our daily lives.

I know I am standing alone here but I fail to find out why this author is so popular? She has a main character with so many attributes and qualities that he would make Mother Theresa look like Dr. Evil. The other central characters have absolutely no human foibles at all other than every one has a "heart of gold", even one of the "bad" guys. The women characters all seem to be virtuous with one silly exception and incapable of doing wrong, only some of the men seem to be capable of doing naughty things. (spoiler alert)The premise of an individual forcing students to play Russian roulette for years to prove their character is so ridiculous as to be laughable, particularly as no one seems to run afoul of the odds.

Louise Penny is a capable writer but to me her novels seem to read like bodice rippers. Everyone is filled with intense passions and emotions and react in the most idiotic manner imaginable. If you like this sort of stuff I think Elizabeth George or Charles Todd would be better choices.

A great novel that includes the continuation of Gamache and his past, his relationship to Serge Leduc and Michael Brebuf and the corruption in the Surete Academy where Gamache is now the Commander trying to root out the rot.
Many mysteries that were unanswered are now answered including the history of Three Pines and a great reckoning for Gamache and Amelia Choquet is revealed.
It is best to read Penny's books in order. A highly recommended series.

A great book, 12th in the series. Warning. You need to read all the books in order starting with Sill Life. Her books center in Three Pines and her characters reoccur in each book. These books are much more then the mysteries but about the people in them

Forget the mystery, this book is a must read for any organization or a team dealing with a nasty problem of bullying. It shows that bullying has many ugly faces. It describes all the psychological processes and horrific implications of bullying. It teaches that we have to be vigilant to recognize those signs, dependencies as well as boundaries that are being pushed by someone close to us before our moral, physical and spiritual health gets destroyed. And yes, don't believe everything you think.

I do not usually pick a mystery to read but read this one because my bookgroup had selected it. I was surprised how much I enjoyed the book. The characters who live in Three Pines are memorable, especially Ruth Zardo, the old poet. What a saucy character! I now would like to read and explore the earlier books about Armand Gamache.

This is an engaging character driven mystery crime novel. It follows a man who is trying to clean up a corrupt system. Murder ensues. But, it also includes a few extra bits of intrigue, including an historic mystery that feels a bit like a Agatha Christie. I enjoyed the characters, I enjoyed trying to guess the answers to the various mysteries, and I enjoyed the book.

This is the first of the Gamache series I've read (picked at random, because the first wasn't available at the time). I can't wait to read more of the series.

Not one of her best not one of her worst. She has to get an editor capable in both languages who can rise up to the tasks at hand. This book was fraught with errors. Usually they are in just in french but not this time. I missed the conviviality of Gabri and Olivier. And I could have used more Rosa and Ruth. And what specifically did Gamache have to reckon with? There was a story line there but Penny left it untouched. Perhaps Amélie is not entirely out of his life...
As a Townshipper I live for the geographic references-they bring me home. They give me the slice of Québecois joie-de-vivre I so miss. And the food references all give me such an appetite!

What is next for Gamache? He cleaned up the Academie, now what will he turn his attention to? Undercover work with Lennoxvilles' boy scouts? ;) Now would be a good time for Ms. Penny to take a much needed respite.